The CEO for Hockey Canada Bob Nicholson said, “By my count, I’m at 11. It’s never been that low. The number has always been higher," in Mark Spector's storyyesterday, when responding to the question of how many players are locks to make the Canadian Olympic team.

If Nicholson is correct, that leaves 12 spots open, and two "extras". The roster has been expanded from 23 to 25, but I was told a few weeks ago that the players holding down the 24th and 25th spots will be told they are going to Sochi as extras, unless they run into injury problems.

So who are the 11 players that are locks to make the team?

After scanning the roster here is who I feel are locks:

Roberto Luongo. He won gold in Vancouver, and even if he doesn't start every game he'll be one of the three goalies.

Shea Weber. Big, strong, good skater, heavy shot and he's can play against any forward in the tournament.

Drew Doughty. He was only 20 in Vancouver and was one of Canada's best D-men, and his overall game is more consistent now.

Duncan Keith. He's won two Cups since winning gold in Vancouver, and his speed and first pass will be a major asset on the big ice.

Sidney Crosby. He's the most complete forward in the game, and when healthy he's the best player in the game.

Jonathan Toews. He led Canada in scoring in 2010, and his two-way game is outstanding. He's extremely competitive and he'll be one of the leaders.

Ryan Getzlaf. Excellent play maker, and he had a bounce-back season last year. He's won Olympic gold and a Stanley Cup.

Eric Staal. He can play centre or wing and can play on any line. He understands the pressure of the Olympics having played in Vancouver.

Patrice Bergeron. Some questioned his spot on the team in 2010, but he was excellent on faceoffs in Vancouver and in the past three and a half years he's become one of the best two-way centres in the world.

Rick Nash. Nash has lots of international experience, and played very well on the "checking" line in Vancouver. I see him and Toews as a combo again in Sochi.

Steven Stamkos. He is the only non-returnee that I have as a lock. He's the best Canadian goal scorer, and I suspect we will see him and Crosby play together.

When Nicholson mentioned 11 players, he easily could have had Corey Perry on his list, but I have Stamkos as a lock.

Nicholson's 11 locks don't have to include returnees, because 15 of them were invited to the summer orientation camp. Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle, Mike Richards, Brent Seabrook and Perry are the other fiver returnees who will be at camp.

I believe Perry will make the team, because the coaching staff likes having players who've experienced the pressure of the Olympics. It is different than NHL playoffs, because of the single game elimination format of the playoffs. You can't have an off night, and then play great for four other games.

Whether Nicholson was referring to Stamkos or Perry, the reality is that seven forward spots are taken, barring injury, so that only leaves six forward slots and one "extra" forward position.

Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall will have to out perform Jeff Carter, Logan Couture, Matt Duchene, Claude Giroux, Chris Kunitz, Andrew Ladd, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, James Neal, Patrick Sharp, Jordan Staal and Martin St.Louis and John Tavares if they hope to make the team.

In Spector's article GM Steve Yzerman had this to say about available spots.

“I’d say there are probably, conservatively, maybe 10 locks. Ten may be a conservative number, sure, but half of this team is available for guys to make. At least half.”

I suspect Yzerman says 10 because he wants all of the 47 players who arrive in Calgary to believe they have a realistic shot of making the team.

The final selection announcement will garner massive interest and debate amongst Canadian hockey fans. Some very good players will not make the team. The speculation on who will make it will be higher than ever, due to the deep talent pool.

Will Hall or Eberle make the team?

If Hall plays like he did last year, I don't see how he doesn't make it. His speed through the neutral zone and ability to attack, and beat, D-men one-on-one will be too hard to overlook.

Eberle will need to produce like he did in 2011/2012, and if Eberle gets lots of PK time with the Oilers that will increase his shot of making the team.

Who are your 11 locks?

A MUST SEE....

I have no idea what Dallas Eakins will say to the Oilers when he addresses them on the first day of training camp, but I'd recommend he watch this. Nick Selby....Epic speech.

"Our mission as students is not to follow in the footsteps of astronauts, Nobel Prize laureates and presidents who graduated before us, but to exceed their footsteps. Crush the shoulders of the giants upon whom we stand."

"If you want to play theme music during your convocation speech like a bad ass, WE ARE AT GEORGIA TECH, YOU CAN DO THAT..."

Gold, Nick, Gold.

3RD ANNUAL SPEC'S DECK

**Latvian Fire Jumping from the original party.***

Two years ago I came up with an idea to raise money for charity, while including a great night out. We hatched the idea Spec's Deck, where my good buddy from Sportsnet, Mark Spector, would host a party on his deck.

The past two years have been great, so we are doing it again...This year it will be at a secret location, but all the details are the same.

The contest works like this. You donate $100 to help end MS and you get in the draw. We will have FIVE winners and we cap it at 100 entries. You can enter as many times as you wish. $100 gets you one entry; $200 gets you two and so one. Last year we sold out in less than three weeks, so if you want to win, get on it.

The party will be on Friday, September 20th....

Here is what you get:

The winner gets to bring three friends.

Prestige Limos will pick you up, (Each group of four has one pick up spot) and take you to Spec's deck in style.

The party will start around 6 p.m. and last for as long as we like. Joining Spec and I will be Brownlee, Strudwick, Ryan Rishaug, Meg Storms and maybe even Wanye. I've also secured a few SPECIAL GUESTS. A few current and former pro athletes will take part in the festivities.

The past two years have been very fun. Last year we had Brett Kissel perform live on Spec's Deck, and it launched his career (maybe his singing ability had more to do with it, but we are certain Spec's Deck really gave him the confidence to go to Nashville), and today he has the #1 song in country music in Canada.

We will have some great live entertainment on the 20th as well.

A huge thank you to all the sponsors and to those who enter and support MS. Good luck.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

Tavares, Giroux and Hall would be a hell of a line. I can't see those three not making it. I think Getzlaf and Nash have the potential to slump their way off the team and I don't see them as locks at all.

Jordan and Hall are not making the team, as much as I would like them to. lets get serious I wouldn't take them and neither with the Olympic team. they don't even have NHL playoff experience let alone Olympic experience. the only reason they got invited is because of Kevin Lowe's ties to team Canada.

Jordan and Hall are not making the team, as much as I would like them to. lets get serious I wouldn't take them and neither with the Olympic team. they don't even have NHL playoff experience let alone Olympic experience. the only reason they got invited is because of Kevin Lowe's ties to team Canada.

So you're saying the second best left winger in the NHL is not good enough for your team? You must be a Flames fan.

Canada has some great players, but the majority of them are centres. Canada will need people at their natural positions, as the nature of the tournament demands the players be comfortable with where they are playing.

A ton of people want to see Kunitz on a line with Crosby and that makes sense. But I don't see Kunitz's game translating to the big ice as well as Hall's. Not to mention the top line is likely already going to be Crosby and Stamkos, with the third guy likely another centre or RW.

As many have pointed out, a line with Tavares, Hall, and Giroux or Getzlaf would be unreal. I just don't see how you leave a top nine scorer, with that much speed and skill, out in favour of an off wing centre.

Eberle, sadly I don't think makes the team, but even though Hall is not a lock, I just can't see Yzerman being able to deny Hall a spot once he weighs his options. As russia demonstrates year after year after year, a team of individual superstars does not a team make. Hall is the second best LW next to Kunitz in terms of points, and he hasn't had the Crosby benefit to pad his stats.

Jason, Do you think the fact that there will be no on ice sessions for the orientation camp will set us back a bit? With reportedly only about 3 practices,according to your buddy Spector, before the Olympics start,you'd think that developing some chemistry and actual practice would be a must?

Given that there are two extra spots this year, I think Stevie Y should be open to including a young guy like Taylor Hall. As long as Taylor deserves to be there, let him ride shotgun and soak in the experience. Gotta let the future of Canadian hockey get their feet wet.

Besides being stacked and loaded with Olympic experience, one of the other roadblocks for Hall and Eberle is that Team Canada my try to select guys that have played together. Given the limited time to find chemistry, selecting guys that play together or have had success together in the past is likely a goal for Team Canada.

I think RNH, with two healthy shoulders, has the kind of year that Hall had last year.

That means

- Hall has a year as good or better than last year. Top-10 in scoring, Top-5 for left wingers. Given his speed (Taylor-made, get it, for the Olympic ice), for him not to be in the Sochi mix would be as ludicrous as, I dunno, the same guy being voted to the all-star team at both left and right wing.

- Eberle has a year more like his first. Which means both he and RNH will work their way into the Sochi conversation. They don't necessarily make the team, especially RNH given the depth at centre, but they will be part of the discussion.

I think RNH, with two healthy shoulders, has the kind of year that Hall had last year.

That means

- Hall has a year as good or better than last year. Top-10 in scoring, Top-5 for left wingers. Given his speed (Taylor-made, get it, for the Olympic ice), for him not to be in the Sochi mix would be as ludicrous as, I dunno, the same guy being voted to the all-star team at both left and right wing.

- Eberle has a year more like his first. Which means both he and RNH will work their way into the Sochi conversation. They don't necessarily make the team, especially RNH given the depth at centre, but they will be part of the discussion.

While agree Hall may be able to play his way onto the team, it won't be as easy as just putting up points.

The roster is going to be absolutely loaded with centres, some of who will be switched to wing.

Crosby (lock)

Tavares (lock)

Bergeron (lock)

Toews (lock)

Stamkos (lock)

Eric Staal (lock)

Couture (lock)

Getzlaf (lock)

Thornton

Jordan Staal

Duchene

Carter

Richards

That's 13 high end centres and the wingers at camp include:

Giroux

Perry

Sharp

Ladd

St. Louis

Kunitz

Neal

Lucic

Marchand

Nash

If those 8 centres that I consider a lock make the team, that doesn't leave many positions open for wingers except as extras.

Luongo, Nash, Eric Stall should not be locks but are. Nash is enormously over rated but internationally hes gold. Stall play has fallen off, but hes big so he will play. Luongo, he should not be invited, nets a huge question mark.

If Canada wins this they need the explosive speed. Duschene, Hall, Kane should make it. Im one for inviting youngind to camp. McKinnon, RNH, Kadri were not invited and should be. Canada paid for leaving Crosby at home in 06. That decision looks enormously bad. Stamkos was not needed in Vancouver but the guy was a top 3 player in the world. Canada often pays for not taking their best young talent. The only thing I hope is Yzerman remembers 87' when Slats and Keenan screwed him and Roy. Guy might take a Hall or Eberle because of his own shafting. This team needs young explosive speed.

Why the hell didn't Molsons, Rogers or Wanye buck up the $1 million for insurance? The Olympics are THE event and you'd think Hockey Canada could have got some corporate sponsor on board to help with it. With the exception of the Americans,every other country grew up playing on the larger ice surface. The goalies and D-men especially need time on the big ice as the angles for both are different.As shanetrain stated it's going to be all about speed,we need time on the big ice.Speed and bad reffing are the two gaurantees.

Grit is not necessary for this one on the big ice. I sure hope the think-tank is leaning on icing speed, skill, character and more speed on this roster.

CANADA!!

That's why a healthy Hall needs to be on this Team. He's getting bigger & faster each year & will be 22 soon. He's faster & stronger than Kunitz, so a 1st line of Crosby, Stamkos & Hall would be something to see. Regardless, he should get a shot at a scoring line.I see Toews , Giroux & Bergeron as 2nd, 3rd & 4th line centers. wingers could be Tavares, E, Staal, Nash, Neal & Richards.

Why the hell didn't Molsons, Rogers or Wanye buck up the $1 million for insurance? The Olympics are THE event and you'd think Hockey Canada could have got some corporate sponsor on board to help with it. With the exception of the Americans,every other country grew up playing on the larger ice surface. The goalies and D-men especially need time on the big ice as the angles for both are different.As shanetrain stated it's going to be all about speed,we need time on the big ice.Speed and bad reffing are the two gaurantees.

Experience on the bigger ice surface and with the pressure of "one and done" Olympic hockey is why so many vets from last time will make the team.

I think if Getzlaf and Nash make the team, they better earn it. Past accomplishments don't mean much to me. If they are'locks', I will be concerned about our chances. Guys like Hall and Tavares and Giroux would fare better on the big ice at their age imo

Eberle has done too much for canada in the past to be left off. He made the wc team before playing in the nhl for this reason. Hall is the second best lw in the game. It would be idiotic to leave both off the roster. There are other good players but we shouldn't undervalue our own.

Eberle has done too much for canada in the past to be left off. He made the wc team before playing in the nhl for this reason. Hall is the second best lw in the game. It would be idiotic to leave both off the roster. There are other good players but we shouldn't undervalue our own.

Why would we take a player because of what was accomplished in the past in a different level if he is not the best player. Sounds like something Tambellini would say.

This isnt the world juniors or World Championships. This is the elite of the elite.

If you are talking about Eberles goals playing post draft year, and post draft year plus playing against teams that usually have players pre draft year, while playing on lines with the two first overall picks in subsequent years, I ask that you please keep in context the situation he achived this in and the competition he was playing against and compare that to the olympic competition and the fact that he will be a younger player in the tournament and not an older more physically mature player like he was in the juniors. Yes it was magical, but it is time to move on.

Jason, Do you think the fact that there will be no on ice sessions for the orientation camp will set us back a bit? With reportedly only about 3 practices,according to your buddy Spector, before the Olympics start,you'd think that developing some chemistry and actual practice would be a must?

No, none of the other teams are going on ice either. Russia is the only one that might. I think the best in the world will be able to adjust. Keep in mind they will have a few tune up games in round robin vs. lower seed teams before the playoffs start.